Written by

Chas Sisk
| The Tennessean

Gov. Bill Haslam defended his top education adviser amid a petition drive calling for his ouster.

Haslam told reporters Monday that he stands by Education Commissioner Kevin Huffman, the head of the state Department of Education. Huffman has sparred repeatedly with educators, most recently over a new pay plan that replaced decades-old salary schedules that rewarded teachers solely for advanced degrees and years of service.

"I'll put it this way: If I was going out to hire an education commissioner again today, I would hire Kevin Huffman," Haslam said. "If you look at the states that are ...